Description
About Tillandsia ionantha vanhyningii
Tillandsia ionantha var. vanhyningii is the caulescent variety of Tillandsia ionantha, from Chiapas in southern Mexico. Where the typical ionantha is a stemless rosette, vanhyningii grows along a stem, and the leaves are succulent and thick.
Singles are about 2 inches tall, and the plant is a prolific grower. It offsets along the stem, and it easily grows into a clump of many rosettes.
At bloom it blushes bright pink and opens tubular purple flowers. The colour is as strong as any ionantha, on a plant with a different shape.
We grade it from 1-inch minis and 2-inch smalls to 4-to-5-inch larges and 7-to-9-inch giants, plus small and large clumps and clumps on wire about 5 inches wide. Larges and giants are old plants and will carry some leaf damage from age.
Vanhyningii is the ionantha for buyers who already stock the common forms. The stem habit hangs and drapes, so it works in wire holders and on driftwood where a stemless plant sits flat. Our type 2 vanhyningii is a separate clone.
Growing Tillandsia ionantha vanhyningii: Care Guide
Care is ionantha care: bright light with some sun, a soak every week to ten days and a full dry-out. The succulent leaves store more water than the typical ionantha, so it takes drought a little better, and the stem holds water between the stacked leaves, so it needs a good shake and a hanging position to dry. Full sun brings the deepest pink. Old giants have thick, woody stems and want a solid mount. A clump left alone for a few years becomes a ball of pink at bloom, so resist dividing it.
- Light: Bright light with direct sun for part of the day.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 7 to 10 days.
- Drying: Shake and hang. Stacked leaves hold water along the stem.
- Airflow: Good airflow after each soak.
- Temperature: 45°F to 95°F. No frost.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: Glue the base to driftwood and let the stems drape, or wire a clump to hang.
- Pups: Along the stem. Leave them on for a clump.
Read our air plant care guide, or browse more Air Plants.
